Golfer Chawrasia tied second but seven shots behind Norris

Seasoned Indian golfer S.S.P. Chawrasia was tied second after scoring a four-under 68 but found himself seven shots behind leader Shaun Norris of South Africa, who fired a sensational 61 in the third round of the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open here on Saturday.

Chawrasia, who scored two 66s to be the joint leader in the first two rounds, scored an eagle on the 14th hole, birdies on the first, fifth, 10th and 13th against two bogeys for a 68.

The Kolkatan got a three-day total of 16-under 200 and shared the second spot with Japan’s Azuma Yano and South Korea’s Jeunghun Wang and Junwon Park at the Royal Mingalardon Golf and Country Club.

Norris, a one-time winner on the Asian Tour, opened up a commanding seven-shot lead over the rest of his rivals with his three-day total of 23-under 193 at Myanmar’s richest sporting event.

Norris was a man on fire starting from the par-four first. He set the blistering pace with six birdies and an eagle through eight holes before a lone bogey on nine momentarily put the brakes on his charge.

“I was not very sure about the yardage there and the last place you want to be on the greens is to be far away from the pin. I basically bailed out on that shot, left it to the right of the green and did not get a good up and down,” said Norris in an Asian Tour release.

After turning in 29, the South African enjoyed another sparkling homeward-nine where he marked his card with another four birdies on 11th, 13th, 15th and 17th.

“It was definitely a very exciting day. Right from the start, everything went well. I could read the line and was striking it well, hitting the ball into places which I wanted it to be.

“I was always thinking of that magical 59. I hit a good putt on 16 but only managed a par. Unfortunately, the wind turned on us on 18 so I couldn’t really go for it as it was out of reach,” said Norris.

India’s Rahil Gangjee was tied sixth after scoring 66 that took his total to 17-under 203 in the event which is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO).

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